Caprese Salad or Insalata Caprese, as it’s known in Italy is typically made with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, and olive oil. However, there are many variations. You might want to add chopped fresh garlic, Balsamic vinegar, or other herbs.
Enjoy this wonderful Caprese Salad with Vegetables and Herbs
- 1½ Tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Stalk of celery julienned (sliced thinly)
- 1 bell pepper or 2 baby bell peppers julienned (sliced thinly)
- 1 small zucchini julienned (sliced thinly)
- 2 med-large size ripe tomatoes (sliced1 thinly)
- 9 oz Fresh Mozzarella cheese (sliced thin)
- Leaves of basil, oregano, and thyme (to taste)
- sea salt
- ground pepper
- Heat the extra virgin olive oil in a medium-large saute pan.
- Gently saute the celery for about 30 seconds
- Add the bell peppers for another 30 seconds
- Lastly, add the zucchini for another 30 seconds.
- Take the pan off the heat.
- Salt and pepper the vegetables to taste
- Arrange the tomatoes and cheese slices in a salad plate or a serving dish.
- Top the tomatoes and cheese with the sauteed vegetables.
- Sprinkle the top with the basil, oregano and thyme leaves.
During summer, there’s nothing better than fresh ripe tomatoes picked directly from the vine. If you have room to grow them yourself, that’s all the better. If not, seek out farmer’s markets as they often have vine-ripened varieties in season. Most tomatoes sold at grocery stores are picked before they’re ripe and aren’t nearly as tasty.
For this Caprese Salad variation, I sautéed and julienned zucchini, bell peppers, celery, and seasoned it with fresh thyme, oregano, and basil.
How do you make your Caprese Salad? Please leave a comment below
I’ve never tasted store bought tomatoes that were anywhere near as good as home picked tomatoes. I almost don’t want to eat them in the winter because they are mediocre at best. Anyway, the salad looks amazing. I can’t wait to try it.
I agree Brian. It’s pretty impossible to find truly tasty ripe tomatoes other than in summer and part of fall. I hope you enjoy the salad.